Motor-vehicle.



Patented Apr. 29, l902.'

G. W. SMITH.

MOTOR'VEHICLE.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Illlllllll mm MN mm W No., 698,753. Patented Apr. 29, I902.

' G. Wl SMITH.

MOTOR VEHICLE. (Application filed Aug. 28, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNIT D STATES- PATENT OFFI E.

GEORGE WILLIAM SMITH, OF HARDIN, MISSOURI.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,7 53, dated April29, 1902. Application filed August 28, 1901. Serial No. 78,583. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGEWILLIAM SMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Hardin, in the county of Ray and State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and useful Motor-' Vehicle, of whichthe following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to motor-vehicles and particularly to themeans for transmitting power from the motor to the wheels.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel mechanism fortransmitting power to all of the wheels, whereby all are employed asdrivers, and to so connect them that all may be run at difierent speeds,and each will accommodate itself to the diiferent relations it mayassume with respect to the others, but will always be positively driven.

Other features relate to improved means for supporting the drivingmechanism, so that the proper steering and control of the vehicle willnot be interfered with, and to the novel construction and supports forthe axles.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred embodiment of the inventionis fully shown, and the construction and operation thereof are describedin the following specification. It is to be understood, however, thatthe invention is not to be limited to the particular form set forth; butsuch changes and modifications may-be made therefrom as fall within thescope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of: the frame oftheimproved motor-vehicle. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig.3 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view. Fig. sis a verticalsectional view throughone of the axle-frames.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention a pair of axle-frames areprovided, connected by a reach which is rigidly secured at one end toone, the other frame being pivotall y attached to the other end. Inorder to distinguish between these two frames, the rear one, to whichthe reach is rigidly secured, will be hereinafter termed the stationaryframe, while the other will be described as the movable or pivotedframe. As both are similarly constructed, but one will be described.

A pair of alined casing-sections 10, having their inner endsspacedapart, are connected on their upper and under sides by trussbraces 11,suitable vertical webs 12 connecting these truss-braces and beingsecured to the casing-sections which are located between them. Anaxle-shaft 13 extends entirely through the alined sections and projectsbeyond the outer ends of the same, one ofsaid sections being provided atits ends with bushings 14E, that form journal-bearings for the shaft.'A. sleeve 15 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft'and is located in theother casing-section with its ends projecting beyond both ends of thesame. This sleeve is provided at its ends with bushings 16, which formjournal-boxes for the shaft. Secured to the outer projecting end of thesleeve is a wheel 17, and a similar wheel 18 is fastened to theoppositely-projecting end ofthe shaft. The sleeve 15 and wheel 17,carried thereby, are held against longitudinal movement upon the shaftby means of a nut 19 and key" 20, thatis secured to the endof the shaftwhich projects beyond the sleeve, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The innerprojecting end of the sleeve is connected to the intermediate portion ofthe shaft by means of compensating gearing, (designated as a whole bythe reference-numeral 21.) -While this may be of any desiredconstruction, in the form shownit comprises a pair of vertical bevelgear-wheels 22, secured, respectively, to the inner end of the sleeveand the shaft, with an intermediate master-gear23, that'is looselymounted upon the shaft and carries pinions 24, meshing with the verticalwheels 22. By this means it will be seen'that whenmotion is imparted.to'the intermediate master-Wheel 23 the shaft andsleeve-will be rotatedsimultaneously, though each may be moved at a different speed, ifnecessary;

Connecting the two axle-frames, as above described, is the reach,(designated as a whole by the numeral 25,) which reach consists of aplurality of tubes or bars 26, rigidly attached to the upper truss-braceand the alined casing-sections ofthe rear frame by means of clips 27 orother suitable devices. These tubes or reach-bars are arranged inconvergent relatiou toward their free ends fand are secured together bymeans of a journal-box 28, located between the same. This freeend of thereach carries a depending bracket-29,, 7 comprising an upright standard30, having a plurality of forward ly-project-i no: arms 31, the outerterminals of which have alined eyes 32. Rearwardly-projecting braces 33alsoextend from the upright standard and are con neoted to a horizontalsleeve 34, located between the reach-bars and having its rear endswiveled in a journal-box 35, which is fastened to a transverse support35, said support being attached by means of clips 36 to the lowerreach-bars. The front end of the sleeve is swiveled in the journal-box2S, and thus the bracket hasa vertical swinging movement with the sleeveas a pivot-axis.

The front frame is pivoted to the bracket ,29 in the following manner: Ajournal-box 37 is secured to the upper truss-brace, and a seat 38 isattached to one of the casing-sec tions directly beneath the same. Abushing 39 islocated .in the upper box, and the eye or :npper arm 31surrounds the same, while the shank of the seat 3!) is located in theeyeof the intermediate arm. A pintle 40 is secured.

to the lower truss-brace in alinement with the boxing 37 and the seat 38and passes through "the terminal eye of the lower arm- 31. By.

this means three bearings are provided which afford-a stable pivot-axishaving a plurality of bearings.

and the seat orstep-bearing 38 is a vertical stub-shaft. 41, thatcarries contiguous to its lower end a horizontal bevel-wheel 42, that.

Journaled in the bushing 39 mesheswith them-aster-wheel 23 of the axle.It will therefore be seen that this stub-shaft is directly in the axisof the pivot axle-frame,

and willtherefore always be inoperative position, no matter in whatdirection the axleframe may be turned.

Arranged longitudinallyupon the reach is the main driving-shaft 48,which shaft passes throughthe sleeve 34, said sleeve being pref erablyprovided at its opposite ends with j0ur-.

nal-bnshings 48*, and also through a bearing 44, secured to a transversebrace 45, located contiguous to the rear end of the reach. The

. rear end of this shaft is journaled in a stephearing. 46, fastenedupon the rear frame, and

the forward end is provided with a vertical bevel-gear47, that mesheswith a similar gear 48, located'npon the upper end-of the stopshaft 41.The rear end of the driving-shaft 43 .carries compensating gearing 49,which consists of the usual spaced wheels 50, one ofv which is securedto the shaft, while the other is loosely mounted thereon. wheel,.locatedbetween the same, is in the form of a spur-wheel 51, carrying thepinions 52, that mesh with thewheels 50. This wheel 51 is the maindriving-wheel for the mechanism, and a motor or engine of any desiredconstruction. may be attached thereto, as will be readily understood bythose skilled .in the art. Secured directlyto the loose wheel 50 is abevel-gear 52 which meshes with the master-wheel 23 of the rear axle.

The mastering gearing connecting the sectionsofeach shaft the wheels ofeach-set may rotate at different speeds, softhat each wheel is entirelyindependentof the other, and the vehicle willthnsaccommodate itself tothe various conditions met with in traveling, such ,as turning cornersand the like.

The advantages forthe construction will be obvious. By applyingpow'erto. all the wheels much larger ones may be employed, so that theinvention is capable of use on rough and sandy or-muddy roads. The dis-,tribution of the power is greatly extended, and the strain andwear on.the 'several parts thereby lessened. ,ture resides in the pivotal orswiveled mounting of the bracket upon" the reach, as it' per- .mitsthefront axle-frames to. swing in aver..

vtical direction, thus. permitting .of Ithefront and rear axle-framesassuming an angular relation to each otherwhen the-wheels of one or theother pass over an obstacle ordrop into a rut without twistingorstraining the frame.

or any part thereof It has been found by actual.- experience .that the'vehicle may be easily guided orsteered, for the reason that.

while the front wheels areusedas drivers the power imparted theretois inline withthe.

pivot-axis .of the front frame and does not interfere with thefreeturning movement.- The specific construction of the severalf partsis important, for the .reason that a strong and rigid structure isprovided, .not easily deranged, and particularly intended for rough.

usage.

From the foregoing. it is thought that .the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described-inventionwillv be apparent .tothose. skilled in the art-without further description, and it will beunder-.

stood that various changesinthe size, shape, proportion, andminordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 1 l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,'and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a stationary axle-frame,ofareach secured thereto, a movable axle-frame having a piv-.

otal connection with the reach, a sectional axle-shaft mounted on eachframe, said sections being con nectedibycompensating. gearing, and adriving-shaft mounted longitudi- A further important .fea-

IIC

nally of the .reach and geared at its opposite ends to the axle-shafts.

2. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a stationary axle-frame, ofa reach secured thereto, a movable axle-frame having a pivotalconnection'with the reach, a sectional axle-shaft mounted on each frame,the sections of said shafts being connected by compensating gearing, anda sectional drivingshaft mounted longitudinally of the reach and gearedat its opposite ends to the axleshafts, the sections of saiddriving-shaft being connected by compensating gearing.

3. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a stationary axle-frame, ofa reach secured thereto, a bracket fastened to the free end of thereach, a movable axle-frame having a pivotal connection with thebracket, an axleshaft mounted on each frame, and a drivingshaft mountedlongitudinally of the reach and having gear connections with theaxleshafts.

4. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a stationary axle-frame, ofa reach secured thereto; a bracket fastened to the free end of the reachand depending below the same, a movable axle-frame having a pivotalconnection with the bracket, an upright stub-shaft journaled to thebracket and geared to the axle-shaft of the movable frame, and adriving-shafthaving a geared connection with the stub-shaft.

5. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a stationary axle-frame, ofa reach secured thereto, a bracket fastened to the free end of the reachand having projecting arms, an axle-frame pivoted to the arms, anaxle-shaft journaled upon the pivoted frame and comprising sectionsconnected by compensating gearing, an upright stub shaft journaled uponthe arms of the bracket and carrying a gear-wheel that meshes with thecompensating gearing, and a driving-shaft having a gear connection withthe stub-shaft.

6. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with an axle-frame, of a reachcomprising bars secured to the frame,-said bars being arranged inconvergent relation toward their free ends, a j ournal-box connectingthe convergent ends of the bars, a driving-shaft journaled in said box,an axle-frame pivoted to the free end of the reach, an axle journaled inthe.frame, and gear connections between the drivingshaft and the axle.

7. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with an axle-frame, of anaxle-shaft journaled on the frame, a reach comprising bars secured tothe frame and arranged in convergent relation toward their free ends, ajournal-box connecting the convergent ends of the bars, a driving-shaftjou rnaled in said box and geared to the axle-shaft, an axle-framepivoted to the free end of the reach, an axle journaled in the frame,and gear connections between the driving-shaft and the axle, saidconnections beingconcentric with the pivot-axis of the frame.

' 8. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with an axle-frame, of anaxle-shaft journaled on the frame, a reach comprising spaced barssecured to the frame, ajou'rnal-box connecting cured to the shaft, theother being loosely mounted on said shaft, a master-wheel also looselymounted on the driving-shaft and carrying pinions meshing with thesecured and loose wheels, said master-Wheel having teeth on itsperiphery, and a gear-wheel fastened to the loosely-mounted gear andhaving an operative connect-ion with one of the axles.

10. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with an axle-frame comprisingalined casingsections connected by a truss-brace, of an axle-shaftjournaled in the alined casing-sections, a sleeve rotatably mounted onthe'a'xleshaft and located in one of the casing-sections, wheels securedto the sleeves and shaft,

and compensating gearing connecting the sleeve and shaft.

11. In a motor-vehiclc,-the combination with an axle-frame comprisingalined sec tions, spaced apart and connected by a trussbraoe, of anaxle-shaft rotatably mounted in the alined casing-sections, a sleevejournaled upon the axle-shaft, said sleeve being located in one of thecasing-sections and projecting beyond both ends thereof, a wheel securedto the outer projecting end of the sleeve, com-- pensating gearingconnecting the inner projecting end of the sleeve and the shaft, and awheel secured to the outer end of said shaft.

12. In a vehicle, a front axle-frame,a rear axle frame, a reach rigidlysecured to the rear axle-frame, a bracket swiveled upon the reach, thefront axle being pivoted to the bracket.

13. In a vehicle, a front and rear axle, a reach secured to oneaxle-frame and a bracket having journals located in angular relation,one of said journals being swiveled upon the reach, the other axle-framebeing pivoted in the other journal.

14. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a reach, of a driving-shaftj ournaled longitudinally thereon, an axle-frame having a swiveledconnection with the reach to permit the reach, an axle frame pivoted tothe bracket, an axle jonrnaled upon the frame, and a stub-shaft mountedon the bracket and connecting the driving-shaft and axle.

16. In a motor-Vehicle, the combination with a reach having spacedjournal-boxes, of a bracket having journals swiveled in the boxes, adriving-shaft passing through'the journals of the bracket, an axle-framepivzo oted upon the bracket, an axle'journaled on the frame, and astub-shaft rotatably mounted on the bracket and connecting the axle anddriving-shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as Q my own I have heretoaffixed. my signature in 15 the presence of two witnesses.

- GEORGE WILLIAM SMITH.

Witnesses:

J OHN MCGREGOR, J AMES M. PUGH.

